Dental instrument



Jan.29,1935. R E'7 'BARR 1,989,162

' DENTAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug..` 5, '1933 v y vInvcnior 79g/ EE0@ -Byawm flllomey Patented Jan. 29, 1935 i UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to dental instruments and consists in the provision of such an instrument combining in a single structure elements which heretofore, although necessarily used one with the other for the better examination'l and treatment of the oral cavity, are now made and handled as individual instruments, making the use of the same at one and the same time very impractical if not impossible. Reference in this connection is especially made to the dental instruments consisting of the mouth mirror, illuminated mouth light, and syringe for the delivery of compressed air for clearing parts or tissues in the oral cavity of all saliva and its movable matter; and it is an object of this invention to arrange these three instruments in a novel manner providing but a single instrument or tool whereby (1) an exacting and accurate study of all surfaces of each tooth exposed above the gingeval, may be made rendering it possible to study and chart each tooth surface; (2) whereby greater accuracy in the study of cavities in the teeth during their preparation for restoration may be obtained, making it possible to detect carious tooth structure and prepare cavity margins with greater exactitude; (3) whereby there may be had an interproximal examination before and after dental work or restorations, making it possible to view or study accurately these surfaces with a consequent avoidance of overhanging lling margins, etc., at the gingeval margins; while at the same time insuring the removal of residual filling materials, such as amalgam particles and cement fragments or excesses after the setting of inlays, crowns and also bridges set with cement; (4) means whereby a study ofthe gingeval tissues to their point of attachment to the tooth may also be made, rendering it possible to detect calcareous deposits in pyorrhea pockets and insure their removal in the course of the treatment of this disease; (5) by which an accurate check-up on all completed dental Work or services may be made which will insure a closer approach to perfection and thereby be a greater benefit to humanity.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an instrument embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the instrument.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the handle of the instrument.

Figure 4 is an 'end elevational view of the head part of the instrument.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals it will be seen that broadly the invention comprises a handle 5 having a revoluble head 6 provided with a dental mirror 7, a light or illuminating device 8 and a dental air syringe 9.

In the preferred embodiment thereof the handle 5 comprises an outer tubular casing 10 having fitting snugly therein a core 11 of insulating material in which are embedded the wires 12 of an electric light cord 13. Also embedded within the material 11 is an air tube 14 that at the rear end of the handle is coupled as at 15 to a conduit 16 leading from a suitable source of compressed air. v

On the end of the handle casing 10 to which the head 6 is attached there is screwed a coupling sleeve 17 having an inturned flange 18 engageable with a'ange 19 provided on the outer casing 20 of the head 6. Thus a swivel connection is provided between the handle 5A and head 6 to permit of a rotational adjustment of the head 6 with respect to the handle.

Fitted snugly within the casing 20 of the head 6 is a core 21 of insulating material and in this core 21 are embedded conductor wires 22 which at the coupling equipped end of the head 6 are .electrically connected with spring contacts 23 in wiping engagement with arcuate or semi-circular xed contacts' 24 embedded in core 11 of the handle 5 and with which are electrically connected the wires 12. The contact members 24 are channel shaped in cross section and receive the contact members 23 in a manner clear from a study of Figure 2.

Mounted on the free end of the head 6 and disposed at an angle thereto is theilluminating element 8.

The illuminating element 8 comprises a substantially cylindrical shade 25 of glass having at one end an outturned flange engageable with an inturned ilange of a coupling member 26 screwed onto the angularly disposed end of the head 6. At its closed end the wall of the glass is thickened to a material extent providing a bulls eye 27. A removable and renewable electric light bulb 28 of a well known type is arranged within the shade 25 and has its contacts 29 engaged with ilxed contacts 30 electrically connected with the wires 22 through the medium of a suitable substantially conical coil spring or other tension device 31 which receives one end of the bulb 28 and is arranged within the shade 25 in a manner clearly shown in Figure 2.

As shown the mirror 7 is arranged at one side of the illuminating element 8 and is mounted on a handle member or bracket 32 provided at one end with a clip or other suitable fastening means 32' whereby it is secured to the head 8. The arm o'r handle part 32has that end thereof carrying the mirror 7 angularly disposed and extending in parallelism with the bulb 25.

The syringe 9 has a part 9a thereof embedded in the core 21 of the head 6 and at the coupling end of the head the part 9a of the syringe is provided with a hemispherical enlargement fitting in a bell mouth provided on the end of the tube 14 at the coupling end of the handle 5 thus providing between the parts 9a and 14 a ground joint indicated generally by the reference numeral 33. Thus it will be seen that an adjustment of the head 6 relative to the handle 5 may be eilected Without retarding theflow of air through the syringe 9. It will be further noted that the syringe 9 is disposed at the side of illuminating element 8 diametrically opposite to the mirror 7, although in actual use the mirror 7 may be adjusted as found desirable by rotating the clamp 32' about the head 6 as an axis.

It will be further noted that the supply of current to the bulb 28 will be in nowise affected by a rotational adjustment of the head 6 relative to the handle 5, the spring contact fingers 23 being at all times in engagement with the contact 24.

Arranged within the tube 14 is a suitable control valve 34, the controlling part for the valve being suitably mounted on the handle 5 preferably adjacent the forward end thereof so as to be manipulated by the thumb of the hand holding the handle 5 as will be clear from a study of FigureA 1. The electric switch for the bulb 28 is also provided on the handle 5 and designated by the reference numeral 35. Preferably the switch 35 is located as shown in Figure 1.

The utility and advantages of an instrument of this character will be apparent from the following:

Inl actual practice the head end of the instrument may be placed within the patients mouth, and the location of the parts will be such that the diagnostic light 8 will have the beam thereof transmitted through the bulls eye 27 and focused at the point where air under pressure is blown from the syringe nozzle 9 on the tissue being viewed. Also the mirror 7 will be so arranged that the reflection in the mirror will clearly reveal the condition of the area of the oral cavity under observation or treatment. Thus the focusing of thelight through the bull's eye on the oral or dental tissue or structure being viewed or studied while a stream of compressed air is directed at this point clearing it of all saliva and sordes permitting the image of the cleaned and cleared dental tissue to be viewed in the mirror will greatly facilitate tedious dental operations l,

and insures substantially perfect observation of the area of the oral cavity being probed.

To limit rotative movement of the head relative to the handle 5, at the Joined ends thereof the handle is provided with an arcuate groove 36 with which is engaged a pin 37 on the head. The head 6 can be readily removed from the handle 5 for sterilization purposes.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new is:

1. In an instrument of the class described, a head, a handle for the head, a swivel connection between said handle and head, fixed contacts on said handle, contacts on said head in wiping engagement with the first named contacts, a lamp bulb on the free end of the head, and conduit wires electrically connecting said bulb with the contacts on the head, an air conduit extending through said handle, a syringe nozzle mounted on the head and having a part alining with said conduit, a swivel connection between 'said part of the nozzle and said conduit at the joint between said head and handle, and a dental mirror on said head in proximity to said bulb.

2. A dental device embodying a handle, a head swivelly mounted on one end of the handle to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the handle, a dental mirror, an electric light bulb and a syringe needle respectively mounted on the head to rotate therewith, a supply conduit for the syringe needle extending through the interior of the handle, and the syringe needle having a part extending through the interior of the head in alinement with the conduit, interengaging contact means on the head and handle at the Yjoined ends thereof for maintaining a circuit to the bulb, and a ball and socket connection between said part of the needle and the conduit also at the joint between said head and handle whereby during rotational adjustment of the head the circuit to the bulb and the stream through the needle will be unaffected.

3. In an instrument of the class described, a head, a handle for the head, a swivel connection between said handle and head, a dental mirror, an electric light bulb and a syringe needle respectively mounted on the head to rotate therewith, electric feed wires for the bulb extending through the interior of the handle and head, inter-engaging contact means on the handle and head at the Joined ends thereof and included in circuit with the feed wires for maintaining a circuit to the bulb in all rotative positions of the head, and a switch located on the handle and included in circuit with said feed wires; a supply conduit for the syringe needle extending through the interior of the handle and the head and including at the joined ends of the handle and head a swivel connection for maintaining an uninterrupted flow to the needle in all positions of the head, and a valve for controlling the feeding of fluid through the conduit located on said handle remote from the switch.

ROY E. BARR. 

